Councillor on Medway Council: The Issues
Medway Action on Parking
Medway Action on Parking (MAP) was created to provide awareness of the new parking schemes that are appearing in the Medway Towns, and to give a united voice to residents. The Action Group is based in Gillingham and its volunteers have been calling on local residents and traders in the Gillingham area. They are, however, available to all in the Medway Towns by post, telephone or email—contact details are given below.
This is what their leaflet tells us all:
* * P A R K I N G ! * *
NOW THAT WE HAVE YOUR ATTENTION
DID YOU KNOW:
- If you haven't got them in your area already, Medway Council are planning to bring in new parking restrictions, which will seriously affect your life. You will probably get a voting form from the Council soon.
- The new restrictions mean that visitors to your house (that could mean friends or family too) will have to pay to be able to park, or YOU will!
- Many tradesmen (that means electricians, plumbers, TV servicemen, domestic appliance engineers etc) will refuse to call at your house because of the restrictions, or charge extra for their services, to compensate for the cost of business permits (at present £100 per vehicle).
- Shoppers would rather go to areas where there are no restrictions, which puts even more pressure on local shop keepers. This could result in shop closures. YOUR local shops. So – instead of being able to walk to your local shops, YOU will have to drive (or go by bus or taxi) into a different zone, except that the area you want to go to will also have the new restrictions, and YOU will have to pay again (even though you have already paid for a permit for your area).
- Do you realise that the new restrictions could affect the value and saleability of your property.
- Some delivery drivers have already been instructed NOT to deliver to areas with the new restrictions, so you may have to go to their depots to collect your parcels.
- Medway Council have not yet given ANY GUARANTEES about possible future increases in the £15 fee you will have to pay for a permit.
- Consultation with residents and businesses, was either insufficient or non-existent at the time the restrictions were being discussed in council. The majority of councillors agree that this is true.
- EVERY STREET on the Medway Council area is being examined for possible implementation of new restrictions, so no-one should feel complacent.
- "Medway Action on Parking" volunteers will be calling on you in the near future to give you the opportunity to voice your opinions. We can be contacted at the addresses below: